Univ.of  in.  Library 

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RULES 


OF  THE 


CITY  COUNCIL  OF  SAVANNAH, 


TOGETHER  WITH 


NAMES  OF  OFFICERS  OF  THE  BOARD, 


AND 


ORGANIZATION  OF  COMMITTEES, 

FOR 

YEARS  1853  AND  1854. 

LIBRARY 


OF 


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SAVANNAH : 
PURSE’S  PRINT. 


1853. 


RULES 


OF  THE 


CITY  COUNCIL  OF  SAVANNAH, 


TOGETHER  WITH 


NAMES  OF  OFFICERS  OF  THE  BOARD, 


AND 


ORGANIZATION  OF  COMMITTEES, 


YEARS  1853  AND  1854. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

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SAVANNAH : 
PURSE’S  PRINT. 


1853. 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/rulesofcitycouncOOsava 


NAMES  OF  MAYOR  & ALDERMEN, 

FOR  1853  AND  1854. 


MAYOR. 

JOHN  E.  WARD. 

ALDERMEN. 

SOLOMON  COHEN,  Chairman,  A,  R.  LAWTON, 

ISAAC  BRUNNER,  _ JOHN  MALLERY, 

M.  CUMMIN (£  ' DOMINICK  A,  O’BYRNE, 


CHAS.  GANAHL, 
EDWIN  E.  HERTZ, 
JOHN  N.  LEWIS, 


J.  P.  SCREVEN, 
SAM’L  SOLOMONS, 
R.  D.  WALKER. 


STANDING  COMMITTEES  OF  COUNCIL. 


ON  FINANCE. 

STREETS  & LANES. 
HEALTH  & CEMETERY. 
JAIL. 

DRY  CULTURE. 


Lewis,  Screven,  Cohen,  Lawton, 
Cumming. 

Walker,  B ru  nner,IIertz,  O’Byrne 
Mallery,  Walker,  Solomons. 
Cumming,  Ganahl,  Walker. 
Screven,  O’Byrne,  Lawton. 


PUBLIC  SALES  & CITY  LOTS  . Lawton,  Cohen,  Lewis. 


MARKET. 

PUMPS.  1 

FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 
PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 
DOCKS  & WHARVES. 
PUBLIC  EDUCATION. 

GAS. 

WATER  WORKS. 
ACCOUNTS 


O’Byrne,  Mallery,  Brunner. 
Brunner,  Hertz,  Mallery. 
Cohen,  Cumming,  Screven. 
Hertz,  Ganahl,  Brunner. 
Ganahl,  Solomons,  Cumming. 
The  Mayor,  Aldermen  Screven, 
Cohen, 

Solomons,  Ganahl,  Lewis. 
Screven,  Eawton,  Ganahl. 
Cumming,  Lewis,  O’Byrne, 


LIBRARY  

UNIVERSITY  OF  ltUNOlS 


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tit, 


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v 


RULES  OF  COUNCIL. 


RULE  r. 

The  style  of  the  Corporation  shall  be  “ The  Mayor  and  Alder- 
men of  the  City  of  Savannah  and  Hamlets  thereof.” 

RULE  II. 

A quorum  for  business  shall  consist  of  seven  Aldermen  and  the 
Mayor  or  presiding  Chairman,  except  in  the  months  of  July,  Au- 
gust, September  and  October,  when  a majority  of  the  Aldermen  in 
the  city  shall  suffice. 

RULE  III. 

All  accounts  against  the  Corporation,  except  the  Pay  Roll  of  the 
City  Guard,  (which  shall  be  paid  by  the  Treasurer  upon  the  order 
of  the  Mayor,)  shall  be  left  with  the  Clerk  of  Council  at  least  two 
days  before  the  regular  meeting,  and  shall  be  registered  by  him. 
And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee  on  Accounts  to  examine 
every  account  so  registered,  at  any  time  before  a regular  meeting, 
and  to  report  upon  each,  to  be  approved  or  rejected  by  Council ; and 
no  account  or  claim  shall  be  laid  before  the  Board,  that  has  not 
previously  been  audited  and  examined  by  the  Committee,  nor  paid 
until  approved  by  Council,  except  the  Pay  Roll  aforesaid — and  the 
Treasurer  shall  keep  a correct  record,  in  a book  appropriated  to  that 
purpose,  of  all  accounts  so  passed,  distinguishing  in  separate  columns 
those  paid  and  those  unpaid. 

RULE  IV. 

No  member  shall  address  the  Chair  sitting,  nor  shall  speak  more 
than  twice  on  the  same  subject  without  permission  from  the  Chair, 
nor  on  any  account  when  another  member  has  not  delivered  his 
sentiments,  and  wishes  to  be  heard. 

RULE  V. 

All  motions  shall  be  made  in  writing  and  seconded  before  debate, 
and  every  bill  shall  be  read  twice,  that  is,  once  at  two  distinct  regular 
meetings  of  Council  before  it  passes  into  an  Ordinance,  unless  in 
cases  of  emergency,  when  a bill  may  be  read  twice  by  unanimous 


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consent  on  the  same  day  and  passed,  and  after  the  passage  of  any 
Ordinance,  the  same  shall  be  signed  by  the  Mayor  or  presiding 
Chairman  as  soon  as  fairly  copied,  and  be  immediately  thereafter 
published,  and  no  reconsideration  of  the  minutes  at  the  next  meet- 
ing of  Council  shall  operate  to  suspend,  affect,  or  alter  the  pro- 
visions of  the  said  Ordinance,  and  on  the  first  reading  of  the  bill, 
the  question  shall  be  “ shall  the  bill  be  read  a second  time  ? ” All 
Ordinances,  when  passed,  shall  be  fairly  and  correctly  transcribed 
by  the  Clerk  of  Council  in  the  Book  of  Ordinances,  and  when  ex- 
amined by  the  Mayor  and  found  correct,  shall  be  signed  by  him,  or 
the  officer  presiding  at  the  time  of  its  passing,  and  countersigned 
by  the  Clerk,  with  the  seal  of  the  City  affixed. 

RULE  VI. 

The  Mayor  (in  his  absence  the  chairman)  shall  appoint  all  com- 
mittees, except  where  a ballot  is  demanded  by  two  members  of 
Council,  and  shall  have  a vote  only  when  the  members  of  Council 
are  equally  divided,  unless  in  cases  of  balloting  for  officers  or  the 
committees  of  this  board,  when  he  shall  vote  as  other  members. 

RULE  VII. 

The  Council  shall  meet  at  their  chamber  on  Thursday,  in  every 
alternate  week,  at  half-past  seven  o’clock  P.  M.,  from  the  1st  No- 
vember to  the  1st  May,  and  at  half-past  ten  A.  M.,  from  1st  May  to 
1st  November,  and  having  met,  no  member  shall  absent  himself 
without  leave  from  the  Chair,  and  any  member  absenting  himself 
without  such  permission,  or  who  shall  be  absent  at  any  meeting, 
shall  be  fined  in  a sum  not  exceeding  two  dollars,  unless  excused  by 
the  Board.  Any  member  absenting  himself  without  leave  for  more 
than  three  months  at  one  time  from  the  city,  his  seat  shall  be  de- 
clared vacant  and  a new  election  ordered. 

RULE  VIII. 

The  Messenger  shall  summon  the  members  personally  or  by  leav- 
ing written  notices  at  their  usual  place  of  abode,  for  every  meeting, 
regular  and  extra,  notifying  precisely  the  hour  of  meeting. 

RULE  IX. 

The  Clerk  shall  read  over  the  minutes  of  the  preceeding  Council, 


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at  the  subsequent  regular  meeting,  in  order  that  any  clerical  mistake 
or  omission  may  be  corrected  or  supplied,  but  no  alterations  and 
amendments  as  to  the  substance  shall  be  made  or  entered,  unless  on 
motion  for  reconsideration. 

RULE  X. 

The  Mayor,  or  in  case  of  his  absence  or  sickness,  the  Chairman, 
or  in  case  of  the  sickness  or  absence  of  both  of  these  officers,  any 
three  Aldermen  shall  have  the  power  to  call  extra  meetings,  and 
any  member  summoned  shall  be  subject  to  the  same  fine  in  case  of 
default  as  for  non-attendance  on  regular  meetings,  unless  excused 
by  the  Board.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Mayor  or  Chairman, 
as  the  case  may  be,  to  call  extra  meetings  whenever  three  Aldermen 
shall  require  him,  in  writing,  so  to  do — but  no  appropriation  of 
money  shall  be  made  except  at  a regular  meeting  of  the  Board. 
RULE  XI. 

It  shall  be  in  the  power  of  this  Board  to  expel  any  of  its  members 
for  indecent  and  ungentlemanly  conduct  whether  before  Council  as 
a member  or  in  his  capacity  as  an  Alderman,  and  two-thirds  of  the 
members  present  may  expel  such  member  or  members  from  Council. 

RULE  XII. 

Whenever  two  members  shall  require  it,  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the 
members  present  shall  be  entered  on  the  minutes  on  any  question 
taken. 

RULE  XIII. 

In  all  cases  when  committees  are  ordered  to  contract  for  public 
repairs  and  improvements,  they  shall  give  notice  in  one  or  more  of 
the  public  gazettes  of  the  city,  for  a period  not  less  than  twenty 
days;  and  when  proposals  shall  have  been  received  by  the  commit- 
tee, they  shall  be  reported  to  Council  for  approbation  or  rejection. 
Each  Standing  Committee  may  however,  order  any  necessary  and 
urgent  repairs  to  any  extent  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars,  and 
the  same  shall  be  reported  to  Council  at  its  next  regular  meeting, 
provided,  however,  that  Council  may  give  general  and  standing  di- 
rections to  the  Street  and  Lane  Committee  to  provide  provender 
for  the  mules,  and  reasonable  allowance  of  provisions  for  the  negroes 


employed  in  the  Scavenger’s  Department,  and  such  lumber,  gravel, 
sand,  oyster-shells,  or  other  materials  as  may  be  needed  in  repairing, 
grading,  or  ornamenting  the  streets  and  public  squares.  The  same 
to  be  audited  and  accounted  for  at  stated  intervals,  like  all  other 
accounts  of  the  Board. 

RULE  XIV. 

The  Treasurer  shall  open  a quarterly  account  with  the  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Streets  and  Lanes,  and  shall  allow  him  to 
draw  upon  his  own  warrant  a sum  sufficient  for  the  subsistence  of 
twenty-one  (21)  hands,  not  exceeding  $21  per  week,  and  the  said 
warrant  shall  be  consolidated  by  the  Treasurer  quarterly,  and  shall 
be  audited  by  the  Committee  of  Accounts  in  like  manner  with  all 
other  claims  upon  the  Treasury. 

RULE  XV. 

It  shall  be  necessary,  in  all  elections  by  Council,  that  a majority 
of  the  votes  of  the  members  present  shall  be  obtained  before  a 
candidate  can  be  elected. 

RULE  XVI. 

Every  Council  shall,  on  the  day  of  its  organization,  elect  a Chair- 
man, on  whom  shall  devolve  all  the  duties  of  the  Mayor  during  the 
sickness  or  absence  of  that  officer,  and  who  shall  act  accordingly 
until  the  Mayor  shall  resume  his  functions. 

RULE  XVII. 

dSTo  member  of  this  Board  shall  be  directly  or  indirectly  inter- 
ested in  any  contract,  office,  or  appointment,  to  be  made  with  or 
derived  from  the  Board,  and  which  shall  have  annexed  to  it  any 
pecuniary  advantage  or  emolument. 

RULE  XVIII. 

The  only  officers  whose  regular  attendance  will  be  required  during 
the  sittings  of  Council,  are  the  Treasurer,  Marshal,  Clerk  and  Mes- 
senger ; but  all  or  any  other  officers  of  the  city  shall  be  bound  to 
attend  any  meeting  upon  the  requisition  of  the  Mayor  in  writing,  or 
by  special  resolution  of  Council  to  that  effect. 

RULE  XIX. 

The  doors  of  the  Council  Chamber  shall  on  all  occasions  during 


. 


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the  sittings  of  Council  be  kept  open,  nor  shall  any  citizen  be  exclu- 
ded therefrom,  nor  shall  the,  doors  on  any  occasion  be  closed  but 
upon  a vote  of  a majority  of  the  members  present. 

RULE  XX. 

The  Messenger  and  all  other  officers,  except  the  City  Sheriff,  are 
required  to  keep  their  offices  in  the  Exchange,  and  desks  and  ap- 
paratus shall  be  provided  for  them,  and  the  said  offices  shall  be 
attended  to  from  9 o’clock  A.  M.  to  2 o’clock  P.  M.  daily,  Sundays 
excepted. 

RULE  XXI. 

IS o Ordinance  shall  contain  any  subject  matter  which  is  not  im- 
mediately and  necessarily  connected  with  the  subject  and  title  of  the 
Ordinance. 

RULE  XXII. 

The  summons  for  all  extra  meetings  of  Council  shall  express  the 
cause  thereof,  and  no  business  shall  be  brought  before  the  Board  at 
any  extra  meeting  which  is  not  set  forth  in  the  summons. 

RULE  XXIII. 

The  Clerk  of  Council  shall  furnish  each  committee  with  copies  of 
all  resolutions  relating  to  the  concerns  of  said  committees,  which 
copies  shall  be  personally  served  or  left  at  the  dwelling  of  the  chair- 
man of  such  committee,  within  forty-eight  hours  after  the  passage 
of  any  resolution,  or  immediately  thereafter  in  cases  of  emergency. 

RULE  XXIV. 

No  member  of  the  Board  shall  be  accepted  as  security  on  the 
bond  of  an  officer  appointed  by  its  authority,  nor  for  the  fulfilment 
of  any  contracts  made  with  Council,  nor  shall  any  officer  of  Council 
be  accepted  as  security  on  the  bond  of  any  other  officer  appointed 

under  it. 

RULE  XXV, 

The  operation  of  any  of  the  Rules  of  this  Board,  except  Rules  II 
and  XVI,  may  be  dispensed  with  by  the  unanimous  consent  of  the 
members  present,  and  any  proposition  to  alter  any  of  the  established 
rules  for  the  government  of  this  Board,  or  to  make  new  ones,  shall 
be  offered  one  meeting  at  least  previous  to  its  discussion,  and  can 


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only  thereafter  be  adopted  by  two-thirds  of  the  members  present 
agreeing  to  the  same. 

RULE  XXVI. 

The  Mayor  shall  possess  a superintending  power  over  all  the 
salaried  officers  of  this  Board,  and  upon  any  complaint  against,  or 
for  neglect  of  duty  by  said  officers,  he  shall  investigate  the  same, 
and,  if  he  thinks  it  necessary,  report  the  delinquent  and  the  charges 
to  this  Board.  The  Mayor  shall  also  have  power  to  suspend  any 
officer,  holding  an  appointment  under  Council  for  any  flagrant  viola- 
tion of  duty,  rendering  it  necessary  to  take  such  step,  which  sus- 
pension he  shall  report  to  Council  within  forty-eight  hours  after- 
wards, by  whom  the  said  alleged  offence  may  be  inquired  into. 


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OBDEB  OE  BUSINESS. 

I.  Beading  of  the  Minutes. 

II.  Information  and  Fine  Docket, 
f III.  Beports  of  Committees. 

IV.  Ordinances. 

V.  Petitions  and  Applications. 

* VI.  Elections. 

VIL  Besolutions. 

VIII.  Miscellaneous  Matter. 

IX.  Accounts. 


